Winding device for spools of surgical stitching instruments



Sept; 7, 1943. KARLE 2,328,557

WINDING DEVICE FOR: SPOOLS OF SURGICAL STITCHING INSTRUMENTS Filed June24, 1941 arrow Patented Sept. 7, 1943 WINDING DEVICE FOR SPOOLS OFSURGI- CAL STITCHING INSTRUMENTS John D. Karle, Roselle Park, The SingerManufacturing N. J., assignor to Company, Elizabeth, N. 3., acorporation of New Jersey Application June 24, 1941, Serial No. 399,444

9 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for winding suturing thread on spoolsadapted to be used in surgical stitching instruments of that type inwhich a curved eye-pointed needle is rigidly secured at one end of arod-like support and suturing thread is continuously supplied to theneedle from a spool carried by the instrument.

A primary object of the invention is to provide improved and simplifiedmanually actuated means, adapted to be supported either by theinstrument, or by a separate element, to wind the suturing thread ontothe spool for subsequent use in the instrument.

This and other objects have been attained by the constructionhereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawnig inwhich:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a surgicalstitching instrument having my improved spool winding means connectedthereto.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the right hand end of Fig. 1 looking inthe direction indicated by the arrow :r.

Fig. 3 is a disassembled perspective view of the various elements of myimproved spool winder, together with the spool adapted to be woundthereby.

Fig. 4 is a central sectional view of the spool shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of athread-guide and tension forming a part of the present spool-winder.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of my improved spool-winder showing itsupported by a handle wholly independently of the surgical stitchinginstrument.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the invention i illustratedin its preferred form as removably carried by a surgical stitchinginstrument comprising a supporting element l, to one end of which issecured a curved eye-pointed needle 2. The opposite end of the supporthas secured thereto a handle 3 by means of which the instrument may beheld and manipulated. The needle 2 is held within a needle-clamp 4 andis adapted to receive a suturing thread if carried by a spool srotatably mounted in a spool-holder 5 supported by the instrument. Thethread t passes from the spool 3 through a thread-guide 6, carried bythe needle-clamp, thence along a groove (not shown) formed on the underside of the needle and finally through the needle-eye 1.

The needle-clamp 4 is actuated by means of an endwise movable rod 8which passes lengthwise through the supporting element I and into thehandle 3 where it is provided with a threaded end 8 upon Which isthreaded a clamping nut 9. This nut comprises a cylindrical internallythreaded portion 9 fitted within a bore 3 in the handle 3 and anenlarged portion 9 which engages the end of the handle and which has aknurled periphery by means of which the nut may be manually rotated toclamp and unclamp the needle. This needle and its clamping means aremore fully shown and described in my copending patent application SerialNo. 398,708, filed June 19, 1941.

As shown in Fig. 1 the nut 9 is provided with a longitudinal bore 9 intowhich projects the threaded end 8 of the needle-clamp actuating rod 8.

The improved spool-winding device comprises essentially two elements,viz, a thread-guiding and tensioning element A and a spool-holding and-rotating element 13. The thread-guiding and tensioning element consistsof a sleeve member I0 adapted to fit within the bore 9 and is internallythreaded, at li to engage the threaded end 8 of the rod 8. Projectinglaterally from the sleeve 10 is an arm ll having an offset end Hprovided with a thread-guiding eye li Secured to the side of the arm H,by screw [2, is the shank 13 of a spring thread-tensioning finger 13which overlies the end H of member II and applies a slight tension tothe thread t passed between the finger and the oifset end I! of the armll. At its rear side, the thread-tensioning finger i has a downturnedportion 13 which overlies the edge of the portion H and retains thethread beneath the finger. The thread-guiding and tensioning element maybe secured to the instrument by inserting the sleeve l0 into the bore 93in the needle-clamping nut 9 and rotating the thread-guide to screw thesleeve onto the free end of the rod 8 until the shoulder |l, on theelement H, abuts the head 9 of the nut 9.

The spool-holding and -rotating element B comprises a spindle M havingat one end, a portion M adapted to have the spool to be wound placedthereon and then to be inserted into the sleeve member [9 to rotatablysupport the element B on the element A. The opposite end W, of thespindle comprises a finger-grip adapted to be engaged by the thumb andforefinger of a user whereby by relative movement between the thumb andfinger the spindle may be manually rotated in the sleeve is. Thefinger-grip is preferably of small diameter so tha each normal movementbetween the thumb an finger will produce one rotation, or more, of thspindle and the spool carried thereby. Preferably, but not necessarily,the finger-grip portion of the spindle is roughened or knurled tofacilitate its rotation. Intermediate its ends, the spindle is formedwith a circular flange l5, substantially equal in diameter to thediameter of the spool s to be wound, which carries a laterallyprojecting pin It adapted to enter any one of a plurality of holes I?formed in the end flanges. [8 of the spool, to eilect rotation of thespool by rotation of the spindle.

As above described, the improved spool-Wind'- ing device may be carriedby the. handle end of the surgical stitching instrument and therefore.may be readily available for winding. spools for use in the instrument.However, if desired, a separate handle may be provided for holding thedevice during the Winding operation. Fig. 6 illustrates the Windingdevice as supported by a handle H, of wood or other suitable material,having an axial bore l9 therein into which. the sleeve member ill,hereinbefore: mentioned, is frictionally or otherwise held.

To facilitate complete sterilization of the suture thread wound upon thespool, the hub portion it of the spool s is provided with a plurality ofradial holes 2 which, in conjunction with the holes I? in the flanges $8of the spool, will enable the sterilizing medium to be brought intocontact with all or the thread on the spool.

Operation In operation, the. sleeve I3 is inserted into either thehandle 3 of the instrument, as shown in Fig. l, and threaded onto theend of the needle-clamping rod 8, or into the handle H as shown ha Fig.th instrument or hand-1 H being held in one hand of the user. The spools is then slipped onto the reduced. end portion Ma of the spindle andthe pin is is inserted into one of the holes I! in one of the flanges ofthe spool to lock the spool to the spindle. Next the reduced end portion1 4 is inserted into the bore in the sleeve ill and pushed inwardlyuntil. one flange of the spool contacts the slightly enlarged outer endNi of the sleeve l. Next, the end of the thread is passed through thethread-guiding eye N and the thread remote from the end is slipped underthe tensioning finger l3 and behind the downturned portion l3 as shownin Fig. 5. The end of the thread is then secured to the spool, forexample, as by being passed through one of the holes ll and temporarilyheld by the finger of the user. Rotation of the spindle by the otherhand of the user then causes the thread to be Wound on the spool whihafter sterilization, may be placed in the spool-holder 5 of theinstrument and threaded through the needle If desired, the spool-Windermay be retained on the instrument during the suturing operation.However, if preferred, either the element 13, or both: the elements Aand B, may readily be removed therefrom.

From the foregoing it will be perceived that this. invention has:provided a simple and inexpensive, manually supported' and. manuallyactuated winding deviceparticularly adapted for winding spools designedto be used in surgical stitching instruments and that said device isdesigned to be supported either in the handle end or the instrument orin a separate handle provided for the purpose.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, What I claimhereinis:

1. A manually supported and manually actuc bore and at its other endated spool winding device comprising a handsupported holder having abore therein, a spoolholding spindle having at one end a spindle-1'0-tating head and at its opposite end a cylindrical bearing portionremovably journaled Within the bore in said holder, means between saidhead and said bearing portion to lock said spindle to a spool to bewound and means on said holder to guide a thread to said spool.

2. A hand-supported and hand-operated Winding device for surgical suturespools com- .prising a hand-supported holder having a bore therein, a.spool-holding spindle having at one end a cylindrical portion journaledwithin said a knurled finger grip adapted to be held between the thumband finger of a user and being or" such size that one normal rollingmovement thereof between the thumb and finger gives the spindleapproximately one complete rotation, means between said. cylindricalportion and said finger grip to support a spool to be Wound and to lreythe spool to said spindle for rotation therewith, and means on saidholder to guide a thread tangentially to said spool.

3. A manually supported and manually actuated. Winding device comprisinga hand-supported holder having a bore, a manually rotatable spindle, aportion of which is adapted to receive a spool to be wound, a flangeintermediate the ends of said spindle, a pin projecting from said flangeand adapted to engage said spool to effect rotation of said spool withsaid spindle, said spindle having a portion at one side of said flangerotatably journaled the bore in said holder and a roughened surface: atthe opposite side of said flange to facilitate manual. rotation of thespindle.

l. A hand-operated winding device for surgical suture spools comprisinga handle adapted to be held in one hand of a user, a sleeve secured insaid handle, a manually rotatable spindle having one end rotatablyjournaled in said sleeve and a finger-grip adjacent the other end foreffecting rotation of the spindle by the other hand of the user, meansintermediat the ends or" said spindle for looking a spool thereto forrotation by the spindle, and an arm projectingradially from said sleeveand provided with a thread-guiding eye in alignment with said spool.

5 A hand-operated Winding device for surgical suture spools comprising ahandle adapted to be held in one hand of a user, a sleeve secured insaid handle, a manually rotatable spindle having one end rotatablyjournaled in said sleeve and a. finger-grip adjacent the other end foreffecting rotation of the spindle by the other hand of the user,meansintermediate the ends of said spindle for looking a spool theretofor rotation by the spindle, an arm projecting radially from said sleeveand provided with a thread-guiding eye in alignment with said spool, ayielding thread-tensioning device carried by said arm and engaging thethread adjacent said thread-guiding eye.

6. A hand-operated spool winding device designed to be removablyattached to the handle of a surgical stitching instrument havin aneedleclamp and clamp-actuating means including a screw and acooperating nut having a longitudinal bore located Within said handle,comprising a manually rotatable spindle having one end journa-ledcoaxial with said bore and a fingergrip adjacent the other endforefiecting rotation of the spindle by the thumb and finger of a user.

means intermediate the ends of the spindle for looking a spool theretofor rotation by said spindle, and an arm projecting laterally from theaxis of said handle at one side of a spool held on said spindle andnormally engaging said nut to hold the arm in operative position, saidarm being provided with a laterally ofi-set portion having a threadguiding eye aligned with a spool on the spindle to direct thread to thespool.

'7. A hand-operated winding device for surgical suture spools as setforth in claim 6 in which the oil-set portion of the arm carries athread tensioning device for applying a tension to the thread in itstravel to the spool.

8. A spool winding device constructed and arranged to wind suturingthread on spools to be used in surgical stitching instruments,comprising a handle having a bore in one end thereof, a spindle havingat one end a portion adapted to be grasped between the thumb and fingerof a user by which the spindle is rotated and at its opposite end aportion rotatably supported in the bor in said handle, said spindle alsohaving, intermediate its ends, a portion for supporting a spool to bewound and a flange against which said spool abuts, interengaging meansprovided by said flange and spool for locking the two together againstrelative rotation so that rotation of the spindle also efiects rotationof the spool, and an arm removably secured to said handle and projectingoutwardly therefrom and having a thread-eye aligned with the spool onthe spindle to direct the thread to the spool.

9. A spool winding device constructed and arranged to wind suturingthread on spools to be used in surgical stitching instruments,comprising a handle having a bore in one end thereof, a spindle havingat one end a portion adapted to be grasped between the thumb and fingerof a user by which the spindle is rotated and at its other end a portionrotatably supported in the bore in said handle, said spindle alsohaving, intermediate its ends, a portion for supporting a spool to bewound and a flange against which said spool abuts, interengaging meansprovided by said flange and spool for locking the two together againstrelative rotation so that rotation of the spindle also eiiects rotationof the spool, an arm removably secured to said handle and projectingoutwardly therefrom and having a thread-eye aligned with the spool onthe spindle to direct the thread to the spool, and a threadtensiondevice carried by said arm and engaging the thread to apply a slighttension thereon in its passage to the spool.

JOHN D. KARLE.

